Police

Mission Statement

The mission of the SMU Police Department is to maintain a working partnership with all members of the Campus Community to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property, and promote the educational objectives of Southern Methodist University.

The men and women of the SMU Police Department believe in a shared responsibility with our community to create a secure and inclusive environment that promotes and supports the educational process.

We are dedicated to reducing crime and providing a secure environment by targeting quality of life issues in our community through aggressive enforcement of the law, respect for human rights and protection of the SMU community. We will carry out this mission with professionalism, fairness and absolute integrity.

Chief Richard Shafer

Chief Richard Shafer has been with the SMU Police Department since 1999. He assumed the position of Chief of Police in 2007. Shafer is a veteran police officer and former military Police Chief with the United States Air Force. Before coming to SMU he was a Police Officer at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

As of November 2013, SMU Police Department became accredited through IACLEA, International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. IACLEA advances public safety for educational institutions by providing educational resources, advocacy, and professional development services. IACLEA is the leading voice for the campus public safety community.